I am a solitary pagan and an introvert, yet some of my best experiences were going to pagan and pagan friendly gatherings and meeting other people like me.
That first step is tough, especially as an introvert but if you can find a local gathering and get one foot in (and out) the door, you can meet some amazing people.
“A large number of Pagans are described as solitary in the sense that they practice alone, but this does not mean that a sense of community, and the positive relationships that come with it, are absent for them.”
People are meant to be a community. Pagan communities can be difficult and it can be even more difficult to be in charge of a gathering but the sense of belonging makes it worthwhile.
Festivals are another opportunity to meet other pagans. “Festivals often evoke a feeling of Communitas, which he defines as ‘a deeper sense of community in which relationships are more intimate and open’ This feeling is more intense than the camaraderie that might be experienced in mundane life, and are felt even more acutely in ritual states of consciousness.”
Often I hear the excuse that solitary pagans feel a sense of belonging when they participate in their own private ritual because as pagans, we are connected to all things, but I must argue that that sense of belonging intensifies at festivals to the point that you actually can get “high” on the energy that is generated by all the glorious people who are there. Definitely an experience every pagan must enjoy at least once. Even if you just come for a day, it would be worth your while. The entire event though is always preferred as you are immersed into the experience plus you will have created your own safe space in a tent or a sleeping area.
Whether you want to start small at a coffee / tea / pagan book club gathering or jump in with two feet and attend a festival, find something and immerse yourself.
“Get out and meet people. Just because you’ve chosen to practice as a solitary doesn’t mean you should never come into contact with other Pagans or Wiccans. Most metropolitan areas — and a lot of smaller communities — have informal Pagan groups that get together regularly. This offers solitaries a chance to network and chat with each other, without having to form specific organized groups.”
The goal of this page is to help you find your people, others like you who are accepting of you. If you want to start your own study group or just a pagan coffee tea, contact us and we’ll add your information!
Sources:
Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A., & Roxburgh, E. C. (2022). Flow, Liminality, and Eudaimonia: Pagan Ritual Practice as a Gateway to a Life With Meaning. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 62(2), 233–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167820927577
Wigington, Patti. “Practicing as a Solitary Wiccan or Pagan.” Learn Religions, Aug. 26, 2020, learnreligions.com/practicing-as-a-solitary-pagan-2562542.